Carmen Gray has been a teacher in Austin, Texas, for over 25 years. She is a Native Texan, her mother’s ancestors reaching back to France, Spain, Portugal and Native tribes of South Texas and Northern Mexico. Her mother has done extensive genealogical research on the Perez Family Orchestra, a famous family band that began in Goliad, Texas, with Encarnación Perez, Carmen’s great, great grandfather. The story goes that he swam in the Rio Grande while playing the violin, that’s how talented he was! Texas is a big place, with big stories.